Big changes are coming for drivers who transport children in their personal vehicles as rules governing the use of child safety seats, booster seats and restraints go into effect Thursday.
A change in Minnesota state law brings new guidelines in step with American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, which are designed to prevent children from prematurely graduating to the next level of restraint.
“We all want our children to be as safe as possible while we’re driving, and that means making sure they are in the proper child restraint,” said Mike Hanson, director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety. “The new law lays out best practices and will help parents make the best decision to protect their child.”
Crashes are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death for children 7 and younger. Between 2019 and 2023, preliminary data shows that 89% of the more than 12,800 children involved in an automobile crash in Minnesota but were restrained were not injured. Another 10% suffered minor injuries, DPS said.
Conversely, of the 20 children in that age range who died in wrecks over the same five-year period, only 10 were known to have been properly secured, DPS said. When it comes to injuries, only 44% of those seriously hurt were properly restrained, DPS said.
Until now, state law required car seats to be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions on height and weight. The change in state law now specifies the age for using a rear-facing or forward-facing car or booster seat.
Here are the rules:
Birth to 2 years old: Must be in a rear-facing infant seat with an internal harness or convertible child safety seat.
